[Spectrophotometric evaluation of nitrous oxide pollution in the work place of the anesthesiologic personnel in operating rooms].

Chronic exposure to nitrous oxide and volatile anaesthetics can threat the health of the operation theatre personnel. In Poland there are no regulations determining the maximum concentration of anaesthetic gases in the air. The results of measurement of N2O pollution of theatre atmosphere presented in the article exceed European and North American standards. Lack of appropriate technical facilities in operation rooms is aggravated by incompetence of the technical supervision staff and negligence of the anaesthesiological personnel. It is important to enforce European law and standards of work safety in operation rooms. It is of double impact, health protecting and ecological. The authors suggest introducing activities aiming toward the improvement of work conditions in operation rooms and the reduction of uncontrolled release of harmful anaesthetics.